How to remove a bathroom vanity?

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Answer
Here are the key steps to remove a bathroom vanity:

1. Empty the Pipes

  • Remove the p-trap (curved pipe under the sink) which will likely be filled with water and debris2
  • Turn off the water supply at the shutoff valves on either side of the p-trap2
  • Unscrew the water supply tubes attached to the faucet at the top of the vanity2

2. Remove the Vanity Top

  • Unscrew the vanity top from the cabinet base2
  • This will be the final attachment point, allowing you to remove the top2

3. Finish Removing the Plumbing

  • If you can pull the vanity away from the wall without disturbing the plumbing, you can skip this step2
  • If the vanity is tight around the pipes, you'll need to turn off the main water supply to the house2
  • Unscrew the water shutoff valves and remove the curved portion of the drain pipe to fully detach the vanity2
  • Be sure to cap the exposed pipes before turning the water back on to avoid flooding2

4. Remove the Vanity Base

  • Unscrew the vanity base from the wall
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  • If the vanity is tight around the pipes, you may need to cut into the cabinet sides with a multi-tool to remove it in pieces2
The key is to carefully disconnect the plumbing and vanity top first to avoid damage. Take your time and work safely. With the right preparation, you can remove a vanity without creating additional repair work for yourself
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Author: Everyday Home Repairs



Key insights

  • Removing a bathroom vanity can be a DIY project that adds value to your home.
  • Undoing the drain line and water lines can reveal some nasty stuff, so be prepared for that.
  • Turning off the main water disconnect and installing caps is crucial before removing a bathroom vanity.
  • It's important to know how to install shut off valves in order to turn off the water supply at the vanity.
  • ️ Disconnecting all plumbing and checking for any silicone attachment between the vanity top and the vanity is crucial before attempting to remove it.
  • ️ Removing a bathroom vanity and vanity top is best done with two people, but can be done solo with caution and patience.
  • Reusing a vanity that's not your style can provide value to someone else and help reduce waste.
  • Each bathroom vanity removal project can be unique, so it's important to be prepared for potential challenges and seek help if needed.

Timestamped Summary

  • 00:00 Learn how to remove a bathroom vanity, including the base, top, faucet, and plumbing connections, to update your bathroom and add value to your home.
  • 00:52 Remove the mirror, unscrew the hinges, shut off the water valves, and then remove the vanity top to access the plumbing.
  • 02:05 Install caps and flat washers to prevent leaks, turn off main water, and have a tray to catch any water when removing bathroom vanity.
  • 03:04 Remove the p-trap, install shut off valves, and use tools to remove the vanity top.
  • 04:23 Remove any silicone or caulk from the side splashes, disconnect plumbing, and lift the vanity top off to remove the vanity.
  • 05:31 Remove the vanity top, locate and remove mounting screws, and check the plumbing before removing the vanity base.
  • 06:55 Remove the vanity carefully and consider donating it if it's in good condition but not your style.
  • 07:59 Remove the bathroom vanity and vanity top in pieces to avoid drywall damage and ensure the plumbing is in good shape for the next vanity.

Video Full Text

  • 00:00 Hey what's up you guys. It's scott with everyday home repairs and today I'm going to show you how to remove a vanity from your bathroom. So this will include the vanity base the top the faucet and then also how to disconnect the plumbing end of it and also how to disconnect the plumbing connections if you're taking this project on by yourself doing a little diy. Weekends nights and just updating on your bathrooms. I think that's awesome as this is the best way especially as this is one of the best ways to add value to your home. The vein that I have is 62 inches wide which is a little different usually vanities. Nowadays come in 60 and 72 inches so I still need to figure out but what I'm trying to do is swap out. This single sink base with a lot of counter space on the one side to a dual sync base. But today it's all about just removal and how to do that without making more work for yourself.
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  • 00:52 So let's jump into it and show you how. I'm going to take this mirror off quick and it has mounting clips if you have one somewhere and you want to remove it. There is a video right here in the upper right hand corner that will give more details on how to safely remove this type of glass. Now if you've been watching hdtv. You probably got your sledgehammer ready and want to go to work taking a little different tack. Here. I'm actually going to remove the front side without a sledgehammer. So I don't create more damage and just more work for myself later on so. I'm just going to unscrew the hinges and get everything off the front side. This will make accessing and seeing the plumbing easier for the next step so before we take the vanity top off we're going to need to undo our drain line and just a warning. There can be some nasty stuff in here and undo the cold and hot water lines. Now you should have shut off valves at your water lines whether they're quarter turn water valves like these or a multi-turn which is more common. Like this one you can just shut those off at the sink bay shut those down if there's no leaks. Then you can take these lines off but in my case.
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  • 02:05 I do not have shut off valves so. I need to turn off my main water disconnect and then I'm going to install these little caps and if you want to more information on these caps I do have an additional video. You'll see the link there where it shows you what caps to get and then also the flat washers to install so it makes sure that these don't leak because I need to cap these so. I can turn the main water valve back on while I'm doing the rest of the work so once you're ready and you know that the water is going to be shut off whether it's shut off here or at your main water line make sure you have a tray or something underneath to catch any water as you undo the lines it is good to open up the handles on your faucet and then that usually will let out the last remainder of the water.
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  • 03:04 In those lines. Okay so now we'll move on to the drain. I'm just gonna remove this p-trap portion now again. I warned you. This is kind of grew so. I would have some paper towels available. Now I am gonna install these caps again you're probably not in the similar scenario. So you can just keep your valves shut off if you want to know how to install shut off valves here. If you don't have some you can check out this video right up in the corner and that will show you how to remove a fitting like this and then install a new shutoff valve so you can turn the water supply off at the vanity. So now we'll move on to removing the vanity top and I'll do that just with a few tools so a razor blade a painter eight in one or ten in one tool and possibly a hammer what I'll do is.
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  • 04:23 I'm going to cut any of the silicone or caulk that would be on the side splashes or end splash because I want to disconnect as much as possible away from the drywall. So it's just much easier to lift the vanity top off so. I'll jump in and do that now okay so now. I have my side splashes off and I made sure there's no silicone or any attachment between the vanity top backsplash in the wall. All of our plumbing's disconnected and now really the only thing holding it in is between the vanity top and the vanity there might be a bead of silicone depending on how they installed it. So now you can get a feel by pulling up on the front edge and seeing if everything breaks loose yep and mine does so. This is ready to come off all right so now for removal.
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  • 05:31 This is best especially if you have a large like 60 or 72 inch to have a two person job but if you're going to do it by yourself make sure you've got gloves on and take your time. So don't get in too much of a hurry all right now with the vanity top off you can kind of see what we're working with and although my total width was 62 inches. I actually only have a standard size 36 inch vanity base here and then there's just a small extension put on which was kind of like a makeup station. So most vanities are really just sitting on the ground and then they're secured by usually a screw or two going to the back wall into a stud. So. I see one here that I need to remove and then I do have one off to the side as well. So just look for those mounting. Screws remove those and then check out your plumbing so my water lines. Uh the covers I need to take off and then this uh drain line is actually for me.
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  • 06:55 It's coming in from the side which is is uncommon probably 95 percent of time and you guys are facing. You got a drain line coming out the back so as long as you have clearance. There. You have the screws out of the studs you can start to see if the vanity will actually come out of place and if yours is in good condition. But it's just not your style. I would encourage you to keep this whole and and put it on facebook. Marketplace or something for free. Somebody could reuse that and be of value to them. Maybe you have like a habitat for humanity a restore where they resell things like this in the store. So if it's in great shape. It's just not your style try to keep it intact and then somebody else can get some value out of it going forward all right. So now.
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  • 07:59 I should be able just to remove the vanity with a little work and effort and get it out away from the wall all right so that didn't go quite as easy as I was hoping. I have carpet than this that we're removing in this part of the bathroom. So. I'm just going to actually pop up pop off the sides pop off the front and then just take this out of here in pieces all right so that finishes up this project. The vanity is completely removed and more importantly there's no additional drywall damage and the plumbing's all in good shape ready for the next vanity. Each one of these jobs can be a little different so feel free to jump down the comments. I'm in there on a daily basis and would be happy to help you if you have any questions specific to your project and before you take off don't forget to subscribe to our channel as we have weekly videos coming out on projects like this to help you around the house and we'll catch you on the next one take care.
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